Storage assembly and method using that storage assembly

ABSTRACT

A storage assembly and methods using that storage assembly are disclosed. The storage assembly comprises a first planar member, a plurality of attachment devices fixturing that first planar member to the surface, and a container defining an enclosed space, where that container is attached to the first planar member. The method provides (N) portable containers and a plurality of objects. The method designates (N) operational areas and releaseably attaches each of the (N) portable containers at one of those (N) operational areas. The method forms a distribution center, removes the (N) portable containers from each of the (N) operational areas, and transports each of those (N) portable containers to the distribution center. At the distribution center, the method disposes a plurality of objects into each of the (N) portable containers. Each of those (N) portable containers is then releaseably attached to any one of the (N) operational areas.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a storage assembly, and a method tostore and/or dispense objects using that storage assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many activities require the use of multiple small objects. In theworkplace environment, job functions often require that many smallobjects be stored, and subsequently dispensed from a centraldistribution area to many operational areas.

[0003] In the retail sales environment, customers continue to beastounded by the number of pins used to package clothing items.Customers have had to rely on creative ways of disposing of the manypins disposed in retail clothing. Often, with no solution at hand,desperate customers have resorted to pushing those pins into, forexample, rubber doorstops and/or the rubber sealant around mirrors.

[0004] Other less creative shoppers simply leaving those pins on a shelfor bench. Inevitably those loose objects end up on the floor where theyare very difficult to see and avoid. As those skilled in the art willappreciate, a simple pin can become a hazard to other customers whoinevitably sit or step on them, often with painful, even litigious,results.

[0005] What is needed is an apparatus and method to collect and/ordispense a plurality of small objects, where those objects can be safelydisposed in a container, and where those objects can be convenientlyremoved from that container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Applicants' invention includes a storage assembly. In oneembodiment, Applicant's storage assembly comprises a first planarmember, a plurality of attachment devices fixturing that first planarmember to a surface, and a housing defining an enclosed space, wherethat housing is attached to the first planar member, and where thehousing is formed to include an opening. One or more objects, such asneedles, pins, tools, surgical instruments, and the like, may be storedin the housing until use.

[0007] In another embodiment, Applicant's storage assembly includes astationary receptacle comprising the first member in combination with aremoveable and portable container. In certain of these embodiments, thereceptacle is attached to a surface using one or more ferromagneticattachment devices, such as for example screws, nails, bolts, and thelike. The portable container includes a plurality of magnets whichreleaseably attach that container to the receptacle.

[0008] Applicant's invention further includes a method to dispense aplurality of objects from a distribution center using Applicant'sstorage assembly. The method provides providing (N) portable containersand a plurality of objects. The method designates (N) operational areasand releaseably attaches each of the (N) portable containers at one ofthose (N) operational areas. The method forms a distribution center,removes the (N) portable containers from each of the (N) operationalareas, and transports each of those (N) portable containers to thedistribution center. At the distribution center, the method disposes aplurality of objects into each of the (N) portable containers. Each ofthose (N) portable containers is then releaseably attached to any one ofthe receptacles located at any of the (N) operational areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention will be better understood from a reading of thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich like reference designators are used to designate like elements,and in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of Applicants'receptacle;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of the receptacle of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of Applicant's removeable storagecontainer;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a side view showing the container of FIG. 3 removeablyattached to the receptacle of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of Applicant'sapparatus;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a top view of a single planar sheet used to form theembodiment of FIG. 5; and

[0017]FIG. 8 summarizes the steps of Applicant's method to dispenseobjects from a central distribution area using a plurality ofApplicant's storage assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] This invention is described in preferred embodiments in thefollowing description with reference to the Figures, in which likenumbers represent the same or similar elements. In one embodiment,Applicants' storage assembly includes a stationary receptacle incombination with a removeable storage bin. Referring now to FIG. 1,receptacle 100 includes first planar member 110 and second planar member120. First planar member 110 is formed from one or more rigid materialsselected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic, andcombinations thereof.

[0019] In certain embodiments, first planar member 110 is formed frompolyethylene. In certain embodiments, first planar member 110 is formedfrom polypropylene. In certain embodiments, first planar member 110 isformed from polystyrene. In certain embodiments, first planar member 110is formed from polycarbonate. In certain embodiments, first planarmember 110 is formed from a rigid foam. In certain embodiments, firstplanar member 110 is formed from a rigid polyurethane foam.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, first planar member 110 has adimension 140, a dimension 160, and thickness 210. Dimension 140 isbetween about 4 inches and about 6 inches. Dimension 160 is betweenabout 3 inches and about 5 inches. Thickness 210 is between about 0.5inches and about 2 inches.

[0021] Second planar member 120 is formed from one or more rigidmaterials selected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic,and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, second planar member120 is formed from polyethylene. In certain embodiments, second planarmember 120 is formed from polypropylene. In certain embodiments, secondplanar member 120 is formed from polystyrene. In certain embodiments,second planar member 120 is formed from polycarbonate. In certainembodiments, second planar member 120 is formed from a rigid foam. Incertain embodiments, second planar member 120 is formed from a rigidpolyurethane foam. Second planar member 120 has a dimension 150, adimension 160, and thickness 220. Dimension 150 is between about 5inches and about 8 inches. Thickness 220 is between about 0.5 inches andabout 2 inches.

[0022] In certain embodiments, first member 110 and second member 120are separately formed and then joined using conventional attachmenttechniques, including for example adhesive bonding, welding, plasticwelding, ultrasonic welding, use of mechanical fasteners such asnuts/bolts/screws, and the like. In other embodiments, first planarmember 110 and second planar member 120 are integrally formed.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, first planar member 110is formed to include apertures 132, 134, 136, and 138. Variousattachment devices can be advanced through those apertures to fixturemember 110 to a surface. In certain embodiments of Applicant's method,that surface may be a vertical surface, a horizontal surface, or asloping surface.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, member 110 is attachedto vertical surface 205. Vertical surface 205 may comprise, for example,a wall, a door, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2,attachment devices 230 and 240 comprise screws. Those screws passthrough apertures 136 (FIG. 1) and 138 (FIG. 1), respectively, and intovertical surface 205. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, twoadditional attachment devices, i.e. screws or the like, may be disposedthrough apertures 132 (FIG. 1) and 134 (FIG. 1) to further fixturemember 110 (FIG. 1) to surface 205.

[0025] In certain embodiments, attachment devices 230 and/or 240 areformed from a ferromagnetic material. As those skilled in the art willappreciate, magnetism is a phenomenon by which materials exert anattractive or repulsive force on other materials. Some well knownmaterials that exhibit magnetic properties include iron, some steels,and the mineral lodestone. All materials are influenced to one degree oranother by the presence of a magnetic field, although in some cases theinfluence is too small to detect without special equipment. As thoseskilled in the art will further appreciate, ferromagnetism is aphenomenon by which a material can exhibit a spontaneous magnetization,and is one of the strongest forms of magnetism. Such ferromagneticproperties are responsible for most of the magnetic behavior encounteredin everyday life, and is the basis for all permanent magnets, and forthe attraction of metals to those magnets.

[0026] This first embodiment of Applicant's apparatus further includes adetachable container portion. In this embodiment, the detachablecontainer comprises a parallepiped which includes an aperture. Referringto FIG. 3, detachable container 300 comprises a six-sided enclosurecomprising planar member 320, opposing planar member 370, wherein planarmembers 320 and 370 are continuously connected by sides 330, 340, 350,and 360.

[0027] Planar members 320 and 370, and sides 330, 340, 350, and 360, areformed from one or more rigid materials. Those rigid materials includewood, metal, and plastic. In certain embodiments, one or more of planarmembers 320 and 370, and sides 330, 340, 350, and 360, are formed fromone or more rigid materials selected from the group consisting of wood,metal, plastic, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, one ormore of planar members 320 and 370, and sides 330, 340, 350, and 360,are formed from polyethylene. In certain embodiments, one or more ofplanar members 320 and 370, and sides 330, 340, 350, and 360, are formedfrom polypropylene. In certain embodiments, one or more of planarmembers 320 and 370, and sides 330, 340, 350, and 360, are formed frompolystyrene. In certain embodiments, one or more of planar members 320and 370, and sides 330, 340, 350, and 360, are formed frompolycarbonate. In certain embodiments, one or more of planar members 320and 370, and sides 330, 340, 350, and 360, are formed from a rigid foam.

[0028] Planar member 320 is formed to include aperture 310. In theillustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, aperture 310 is formed in the frontsurface of container 300. In other embodiments, container 300 comprises,for example, a five-sided enclosure having an open top portion.

[0029]FIG. 4 shows a side view of detachable container 300 removeablyaffixed to receptacle 100. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, afirst permanent magnet 410 is disposed on the interior surface of planarmember 370 such that magnet 410 is positioned over top portion 235 offerromagnetic attachment device 230. A second permanent magnet 420 isdisposed on the interior surface of planar member 370 such that magnet420 is positioned over top portion 245 of ferromagnetic attachmentdevice 240. In certain embodiments, container 300 includes a pluralityof permanent magnets disposed on the interior surface of member 370,where each of that plurality of magnets is positioned over aferromagnetic attachment device fixturing receptacle 100 to surface 205.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, detachable container 300is releaseably attached to receptacle 100 using the magnetic attractionbetween a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on the interiorsurface of member 370 and a plurality of ferromagnetic attachmentdevices fixturing receptacle 100 to surface 205. In addition, thatplurality of magnets, such as for example magnets 410 and 420,magnetically attract metallic objects removeably disposed withincontainer 300. Thus for example, if a plurality of metallic objects,such as for example straight pins, safety pins, and the like, aredisposed within detactable container 300, magnets 410 and 420 preventthose objects from being inadvertently removed from container 300 ascontainer 300 is manipulated. Those same permanent magnets releaseablyattach container 300 to receptacle 100.

[0031] Depending on the dimensions of container 300 and aperture 310, awide variety of metallic objects can be removeably stored in container300, including for example, sewing accessories such as pins, needles,thimbles; hand tools such as screw drivers and the like; surgicalinstruments; cooking implements; and the like.

[0032]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment ofApplicant's apparatus. Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, storage assembly500 includes a five-sided container, where those five sides includefront portion 510, rear portion 520, mounting portion 530, first side540, second side 550, and bottom portion 560. Front portion 510, rearportion 520, and mounting portion 530 are substantially parallel to oneanother.

[0033] Front portion 510 is formed from one or more rigid materials.Those one or more rigid materials are selected from the group consistingof wood, metal, plastic, and combinations thereof. Rear portion 520 isformed from one or more rigid materials. Those one or more rigidmaterials are selected from the group consisting of wood, metal,plastic, and combinations thereof. Mounting portion 530 is formed fromone or more rigid materials. Those one or more rigid materials areselected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic, andcombinations thereof. Side portion 540 is formed from one or more rigidmaterials. Those one or more rigid materials are selected from the groupconsisting of wood, metal, plastic, and combinations thereof. Sideportion 550 is formed from one or more rigid materials. Those one ormore rigid materials are selected from the group consisting of wood,metal, plastic, and combinations thereof. Bottom portion 560 is formedfrom one or more rigid materials. Those one or more rigid materials areselected from the group consisting of wood, metal, plastic, andcombinations thereof.

[0034] In certain embodiments, storage apparatus 500 is formed fromwood. In certain embodiments, storage apparatus 500 is formed frommetal. In certain embodiments, storage apparatus 500 is formed fromplastic. In certain embodiments, storage apparatus 500 is formed frompolyethylene. In certain embodiments, storage apparatus 500 is formedfrom polypropylene. In certain embodiments, storage apparatus 500 isformed from polystyrene. In certain embodiments, storage apparatus 500is formed from polycarbonate. In certain embodiments, storage apparatus500 is formed from a rigid foam. In certain embodiments, storageapparatus 500 is formed from a rigid polyurethane foam.

[0035] Rear portion 520 is continuously attached to mounting portion 530along seam 525. In certain embodiments, rear portion 520 and mountingportion 530 are separately formed, and then attached to one another toform seam 525 using conventional attachment methods, such as adhesivebonding, welding, brazing, plastic welding, sonic welding, and the like.In other embodiments, rear portion 520 and mounting portion 530 areintegrally formed.

[0036] Side portion 540 is attached to front portion 510, rear portion520, and bottom portion 560. In certain embodiments, side portion 540 isseparately formed, and subsequently attached to front portion 510, rearportion 520, and bottom portion 560, using conventional attachmentmethods. In other embodiments, side portion 540 is formed integrallywith front portion 510, and subsequently attached to rear portion 520and bottom portion 560.

[0037] Side portion 550 is attached to front portion 510, rear portion520, and bottom portion 560. In certain embodiments, side portion 550 isseparately formed, and subsequently attached to front portion 510, rearportion 520, and bottom portion 560, using conventional attachmentmethods. In other embodiments, side portion 550 is formed integrallywith front portion 510, and subsequently attached to rear portion 520and bottom portion 560.

[0038] Bottom portion 560 is attached to front portion 510, rear portion520, side portion 540, and side portion 550. In certain embodiments,bottom portion 560 is separately formed, and subsequently attached tofront portion 510, rear portion 520, side portion 540, and side portion550, using conventional attachment methods. In other embodiments, bottomportion 560 is formed integrally with front portion 510 and rear portion520, and subsequently attached to side portion 540 and side portion 550.

[0039] Referring now to FIG. 7, in certain embodiments Applicant'sstorage apparatus 500 is formed from planar assembly 700. Starting withthe illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7, side portion 540 is rotated 90degress upwardly around fold line 545. Side portion 550 is rotatedupwardly 90 degrees around fold line 555. Front portion 510 is thenrotated 90 degrees upwardly around fold line 565. Bottom portion 560 isthen rotated upwardly 90 degrees around fold line 515. Mounting portion530 is then rotated downwardly 90 degrees around fold line 525. Sideportion 540 is then attached to bottom portion 560 and rear portion 520.Side portion 550 is then attached to bottom portion 560 and rear portion520.

[0040] The illustrated embodiment of FIG. 7 includes attachment means710, 720, 730, and 740. In certain embodiments, attachments means 710,720, 730, and 740, comprise apertures through mounting portion 530. Inthese embodiments, attachment devices such as nails, screws, nuts/bolts,and the like, can be advanced through apertures 710, 720, 730, and 740,and into a vertical, or a horizontal, or a sloping, surface formed fromwood, metal, plastic, wall board, and the like.

[0041] In certain embodiments, attachments means 710, 720, 730, and 740,comprise portions of one or more pressure sensitive adhesives. Incertain embodiments, attachments means 710, 720, 730, and 740, comprisepermanent magnets for releaseable attachment of storage apparatus 500onto a vertical, or a horizontal, or a sloping, metal surface.

[0042] The embodiments of Applicant's storage assembly can be used inmany applications. In certain of these applications, a plurality ofstorage assemblies function as remote collection points. When one ormore of those storage assemblies are filled, or nearly filled, a firstcontainer can be removed from its receptacle, and an empty container canbe releaseably disposed in that receptacle. The one or more fullcontainers can be transported to a central collection point, where thecontents of those containers are collected for later reuse.

[0043] Regarding use in the retail clothing industry, an establishmentthat maintains (N) fitting rooms can outfit each of those (N) fittingrooms with one or more of Applicant's storage assemblies. When acustomer tries on a garment, and necessarily removes a plurality of pinsfrom that garment, the customer can disposed those pins into thecontainer portion of Applicant's storage assembly. When using assembly400 which includes removeable, portable container 300, as a storagecontainer is filled with pins, that removeable container can simply bereplaced with an emprty container. The full container can then becarried to a convenient place, and the contents removed for reuse. Bykeeping spare containers available, each receptacle can always hold anempty, or near-empty, container.

[0044] Applicant's storage assembly can also be used in a reverse sense.Rather than functioning as a plurality of remote collection points, aplurality of Applicant's storage assemblies can be used to dispenseobjects from a central distribution area to a plurality of operationalareas. Applicant's invention includes a method to store and/or dispenseobjects using Applicant's apparatus. Referring now to FIG. 8, in step805 Applicant's method provides and disposes (N) portable containers at(N) operational areas. Such operational areas include, withoutlimitation, (N) sewing stations, (N) fitting rooms, (N) surgery rooms,(N) offices, and the like. In certain embodiments, each of the (N)portable containers comprises container 300. In certain embodiments,each of the (N) portable containers comprises assembly 500.

[0045] In certain embodiments, Applicant's method transitions from step805 to step 810 wherein the method forms a color coding scheme. Incertain embodiments, the color of a portable container indicates itscontents. In certain embodiments, the color of a portable containerindicates a designated task. In certain embodiments, the designated taskcomprises altering a garment. In certain embodiments, the designatedtask comprises fixturing the objects disposed in the container onto acircuit board. In certain embodiments, the designated task comprises asurgical operation.

[0046] In certain embodiments, the color of a portable containerindicates the user of the objects disposed within that container. Incertain of these embodiments, the color of a portable containerindicates that the container should be taken to the work area of one ormore designated employees. In certain of these embodiments, the color ofa portable container indicates that the container should be disposed atthe work area used by a designated medical provider.

[0047] In certain embodiments, Applicant's method transitions from step810 to step 820. In other embodiments, Applicant's method transitionsfrom step 810 to step 820, wherein the method detaches each portablecontainer from a stationary receptacle.

[0048] In certain embodiments, Applicant's method transitions from step820 to step 830, wherien the method sterilizes each of the (N) portablecontainers. In these embodiments, Applicant's method transitions fromstep 830 to step 840. In other embodiments, Applicant's methodtransitions from step 820 to step 840, wherein the method transports andstores, i.e. stages, the (N) portable containers at a distribution area.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the distribution area of step 840comprises a different portion of the same facility housing the (N)operational areas. In other embodiments, the distribution area of step840 is remotely located from one or more of the operational areas ofstep 805.

[0050] In certain embodiments, Applicant's method includes step 850wherein the method forms a first inventory of objects. Step 850 may beperformed at any time after performing step 805 and before performingstep 870. In certain embodiments, Applicant's method transitions fromstep 850 to step 870 wherein the method sterilizes a plurality ofobjects comprising the first inventory of objects formed in step 850.Applicant's method transitions from step 860 to step 870.

[0051] In certain embodiments, Applicant's method transitions from step850 to step 870. In certain embodiments, Applicant's method transitionsfrom step 840 to step 870, wherein the method disposes a plurality ofobjects in each of the (N) portable containers.

[0052] Applicant's method transitions from step 870 to step 880 whereinthe method returns each of the (N) portable containers from thedistribution area to each of the (N) operational areas. In step 890,Applicant's method dispenses one or more of the plurality of objectsdisposed in each of the (N) containers releaseably attached to adifferent one of the (N) operational areas.

[0053] In certain embodiments, Applicant's method transitions from step890 to step 820, or from step 890 to step 840, wherein the steps ofApplicant's method are repeated as described above. In certainembodiments, Applicant's method transitions from step 890 to step820/840 on a daily basis. In certain embodiments, Applicant's methodtransitions from step 890 to step 820/840 on a weekly basis. In certainembodiments, Applicant's method transitions from step 890 to step820/840 on an as-needed basis.

[0054] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications andadaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the present invention as set forthin the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A storage assembly attached to a surface, comprising: afirst planar member; a plurality of attachment devices fixturing saidfirst planar member to said surface; a housing defining an enclosedspace, wherein said housing is attached to said first planar member, andwherein said housing is formed to include an opening.
 2. The storageassembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of attachment devicescomprises a plurality of magnets disposed on said first planar memberbetween said first planar member and said surface.
 3. The storageassembly of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of attachmentdevices comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed between saidfirst planar member and said surface.
 4. The storage assembly of claim1, wherein said first planar member is formed from one or more materialsselected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, metal, andcombinations thereof.
 5. The storage assembly of claim 4, wherein saidhousing is formed from one or more materials selected from the groupconsisting of wood, plastic, metal, and combinations thereof.
 6. Thestorage assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of magnetsdisposed within said housing; a plurality of metallic objects removeablydisposed within said container, wherein said plurality of magnetsreleaseably attach one or more of said plurality of metallic objects tothe inside of said housing.
 7. The storage assembly of claim 6, furthercomprising: a stationery receptacle comprising said first planar member,wherein said first planar member is formed to include a plurality ofapertures extending therethrough; wherein each of said plurality ofattachment devices is disposed through one of said plurality ofapertures and into said surface, and wherein one or more of saidplurality of attachment devices are formed from a ferromagneticmaterial; and wherein said housing is releaseably attached to said firstplanar member by magnetic attraction between said one or moreferromagnetic attachment devices and said plurality of magnets.
 8. Thestorage assembly of claim 7, wherein said receptacle is formed from oneor more materials selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic,metal, and combinations thereof.
 9. The storage assembly of claim 8,wherein said housing is formed from one or more materials selected fromthe group consisting of wood, plastic, metal, and combinations thereof.10. The storage assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality ofattachment devices comprise a screw.
 11. A method to dispense objectsfrom a central distribution area to a plurality of operational areas,comprising the steps of: providing (N) portable containers; providing aplurality of objects; designating (N) operational areas; forming adistribution center; releaseably attaching each of said (N) portablecontainers at one of said (N) operational areas; removing said (N)portable containers from each of the (N) operational areas; transportingeach of said (N) portable containers to said distribution center;disposing a plurality of objects into each of said (N) portablecontainers; and releaseably attaching any one of said (N) portablecontainers at each of the (N) operational areas.
 12. The method of claim11, further comprising the steps of: providing (N) receptacles, whereineach of said (N) receptacles comprises a first member; providing aplurality of attachment devices; attaching one of said (N) receptaclesat each of said (N) operational areas using one or more of saidattachment devices; wherein each of said (N) portable containerscomprises a housing defining an enclosed space, and wherein any of said(N) housings can be releaseably attached to any one of said (N)receptacles, and wherein each of said (N) housings is formed to includean opening.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:providing a plurality of ferromagnetic screws; forming each of said (N)first members to include a plurality of apertures; advancing one of saidscrews through each of the apertures disposed in each of the (N) firstmembers.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:disposing a plurality of magnets inside each of said (N) housings;wherein for each stationary receptacle/portable housing combination theplurality of magnets disposed within the housing magneticallyreleaseably attaches that housing to the plurality of ferromagneticscrews fixturing the stationary receptacle.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein for each stationary receptacle/portable housing combination theplurality of magnets disposed with the housing magnetically attracts oneor more of the plurality of objects disposed within that housing. 16.The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: forming a firstinventory of objects; assigning a first color to said first inventory ofobjects; forming said (N) portable containers to comprise said firstcolor; disposing said first inventory of objects in each of said (N)portable containers.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising thestep of sterilizing said (N) portable containers.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising the step of sterilizing each of said firstinventory of objects.